New Orleans: What To Do and See

15 January 2015

Great! You finally booked that trip to New Orleans and your next step is to begin planning that itinerary of yours. Sure, you've already decided that you want an endless supply of Beignets and that you plan to hit every spot on the Bourbon, but after that you don't quite know what to do or what to see. Lucky for you, I have you covered. If there's something that my (completely jam packed) four days in New Orleans taught me last month it's where to go and what to see. After all, we had the added bonus of having natives as our guides, giving us the chance to sample everything that New Orleans had to offer, and there really is something for everyone.

So, grab a beignet and your café au lait, and let's plan that trip of yours.

Start your morning off at Jackson Square (Cafe Du Monde is right across the street) and make your way through the French Market and down Royal Street while taking in the sites and doing some shopping. Next, do yourself a favor and sign up for Freewheeling Bike Tours to burn off some of those calories while taking a trip through the Crescent City on custom made beach cruisers. Get the run down on New Orleans history and best kept secrets from guide, Teddy. Don't forget to ask him where to get the best beignets in town...

Or, Hop on the Streetcar and head on down to the Garden District for a guided cemetery tour at LaFayette Cemetery. The filming hotspot frequents shoots for The Originals (my guilty pleasure), and was featured in cult classic, Interview with the Vampire. Follow up with some shopping at Magazine Street and stop into Sucré for macarons and chocolate. Wind down and brush up on your history at the WWII Museum's new Road To Berlin exhibit or the stop by Contemporary Art Center for the Prospect 3 installation before heading back to your hotel to rest up for the night ahead.

As the sun goes down set your sites on what the talent in this town has to offer. Everyone has to experience Grammy Award winning brass band, Rebirth at least once (we saw them at The Maple Leaf). They're loud but worth the ringing in your ears into the next morning. If you're looking to go for a more romantic setting snag yourself a candlelit table at Irving Mayfield's Jazz Playhouse and sip Sazerac's (until your little heart is content) while listening to the best of Bourbon Street perform. I dare you to try not to dance. (Remember my Insta-video?) Not entirely into Jazz? Frenchman's street has something for absolutely everyone, you can check out their full lineup here. Now, if you're feeling a little musical yourself head on down to the Bywater for karaoke night at Kajun's. Yes, Karaoke. It's not your average karaoke night, this is the real deal guys, so sign up to belt your favorite song and watch the magic happen.

Interested in something a little more on a paranormal side? Find yourself a hair raising, guided ghost tour throughout the French Quarter. You'll likely be spooked by the idea of ending the night and going back to your room, alone.

As for the food and drinks, you're going to have to wait until next month for my po-boy hotspots, amazing craft drinks and where to get the best alligator in town!

To book your trip to New Orleans, visit VisitNewOrleans.com.
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of New Orleans Convention and Visitor's Bureau. The opinions and text are all mine.